Ear Wax Draining

Cleaning Ear Wax Build Up

Clearing an ear wax build up may be a simple task you can do at home. But sometimes it's a job that should be left to a professional - namely, your doctor. It depends on whether it's a routine "maintainence cleaning" that you do regularly, or an "emergency" cleaning necessitated by impacted ear wax or certain types of ear infections. As explained elsewhere on this website, a certain amount of ear wax is good. It helps keep the ear healthy by trapping much of the dirt, dust and unwelcome visitors (like tiny insects) that might damage the ear or lead to an ear infection.

In general, it's not smart to poke objects into your ear to try to unclog ear wax. Pushing a swab or anything else far into the ear canal can cause more problems than it solves. It can actually jam wax against the ear drum, or cause a skin abrasion that leads to an infection. However, gentle, careful use of a swab in the outer part of the ear, and around the opening of the ear, can help keep those parts clean.

Irrigating ear wax Most doctors favor irrigation for cleaning ear wax build up. Irrigating ear wax is simply the process of introducing solutions into the ear which soften and flush out ear wax. There are some commercial ear wax removal products available that you can use for this purpose at home. One of the traditional home remedies for ear wax draining is a bit of sugar, vinegar, water, and a little peroxide. Warm the solution to body temperature and put a drop or two into the ear. Wait a few minutes, then drain the liquid by tilting your head. Baby oil also works well for irrigating ear wax.

Be careful when irrigating ear wax two reasons. Any liquid you introduce into the ear canal can get trapped there if it's not properly removed. Moisture in the ear canal can lead to an ear infection. Using a solution that's too strong in peroxide can irritate the ear and even remove the very secretions that nature intended to protect the ear canal in the first place.

Some natural health advocates endorse using ear candles for flushing out ear wax. This involves lying on your side, inserting a small candle into the ear canal, and lighting the candle. Some believe this acts like a vaccuum to unclog ear wax, but as of this writing, no scientific study has ever proven this to be true. Many doctors doubt that ear candling works, and ear candles have not been approved by the FDA. Nonetheless, if this procedure appeals to you, click on ear candles.

Be extremely careful trying to flush out ear wax if you have a history of middle ear infections, swimmer's ear, or a hole in the ear drum. And definitely advise your doctor about these conditions before you let him or her try irrigating your ears. The doctor can then make a judgment about the best method to use for cleaning ear wax build up.

Generally speaking, anyone with existing ear problems or a history of ear disease should see an ear, nose and throat specialist to remove wax from their ears. If there's a lot of wax in the ear, your doctor may use suction or a curette to break it up and scoop it out. This can be extremely effective but can also be extremely uncomfortable. Never let someone who isn't a trained medical professional use a curette or any other object to unclog ear wax.